Liberal pundits are already fanning out in force to attack and discredit Paul Ryan. Michael Tomasky, who recently wrote a Newsweek cover story calling Mitt Romney a wimp, has now decided that Romneys bold move is a terrible choice because Ryan has proven himself to be an extremist on budget issues.

No doubt there are many Democrats rubbing their hands in glee in contemplation of reviving some version of the ad that featured an actor playing Paul Ryan pushing a grandmother in a wheelchair off a cliff. But the smarter ones are worried.

First, if Ryan is an extremist and his proposals are so unpopular, how has he won election seven times in a Democratic district? His lowest share of the vote was 57 percent  in his first race. He routinely wins over two-thirds of the vote. When Obama swept the nation in 2008, he carried Ryans district by four points. But at the same time, Ryan won reelection with 65 percent of the vote, meaning that a fifth of Obama voters also voted for him.

Ryan has pointed out to me that no Republican has carried his district for president since Ronald Reagan in 1984. I have held hundreds of town-hall meetings in my district explaining why we have to take bold reform steps, and Ive found treating people like adults works, he told me. All those ads pushing elderly woman off the cliffs dont work anymore if you lay out the problem.

Second, Democrats know that Ryan has Reaganesque qualities that make him appealing to independent, middle-class voters. Take the cover story on Ryan that the Isthmus, a radically left-wing Madison, Wis. newspaper, ran on him in 2009. Ryan, with his sunny disposition and choirboy looks, projects compassion and forcefully proclaims dedication to his district, the story reported. And hes proved he is not unyieldingly pro-corporate, as when he recently joined in condemnation of AIG retention bonuses.

Third, Ryans ideas arent that novel or scary. The idea of premium support for Medicare, which would change the programs one-size-fits-all policy to a private-insurance model with public options, was endorsed by a bipartisan commission appointed by Bill Clinton back in the 1990s. Late last year, Ryan announced a new version of his proposal with a new partner signing on: Democratic senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, who first achieved political prominence as an advocate for seniors.

Four, Ryan puts Wisconsin and its ten electoral votes in play. Polls have shown that President Obama holds a five to seven point lead in Wisconsin  significant, but much less than Obamas 14-point margin in 2008. With Ryan on the ticket, polls show the race is dead even.

Five, if Republicans were looking for a superior candidate, theyve found it in Ryan. His maiden speech as the GOP vice-presidential candidate was perfectly pitched:

We wont duck the tough issues . . . we will lead!

We wont blame others we will take responsibility!

We wont replace our founding principles . . . we will reapply them!

Echoes of Ronald Reagan at his best.

Ryan was judged to have already had the better of President Obama in televised exchanges on Obamacare. His debate with Joe Biden this October might well be remembered as cruel and unusual punishment for dim vice presidents. Recall that Sarah Palin fought a much more engaged Joe Biden to a draw in their 2008 vice-presidential debate.

Six, as Democratic consultant Joe Trippi acknowledged today on Fox News, Ryan will bring in a flood of donations from overjoyed conservatives and tea-party members. Romney had a problem with energizing the GOP base. That problem is now solved, and that will make it easier to pump up conservative turnout.

Democrats will no doubt try to make Paul Ryan into a younger version of the devil theyve tried to paint Mitt Romney as. But they should worry about fighting a campaign on fundamental issues in a weak economy. Thats precisely how Jimmy Carter, the last Democratic president to run for reelection during hard times, wound up losing so badly that it not only cost Democrats control of the U.S. Senate but damaging the liberal brand for years afterwards.

Here Here ....”is a terrible choice because Ryan has proven himself to be an extremist on budget issues.” (NRO)
...Finally someone who will admit our incredible debt burden.... The first step is admitting you’ve got a problem.....

5
posted on 08/11/2012 2:56:03 PM PDT
by djone
( enslave a country: by the sword. or by debt")

Here Here ....”is a terrible choice because Ryan has proven himself to be an extremist on budget issues.” (NRO)
...Finally someone who will admit our incredible debt burden.... The first step is admitting you’ve got a problem.....

6
posted on 08/11/2012 2:56:51 PM PDT
by djone
( There are unknowns. But there are also unknown unknowns.)

Governor Palin consistently had over 70% public support overall in Alaska, with over 60% from Democrats - until the far left slime machine was let loose. I hope Ryan and Romney are ready for the inevitable lies and the magnitude of the bias and hate from the far left.

9
posted on 08/11/2012 2:59:31 PM PDT
by Pollster1
(Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. - Ronald Reagan)

I may do some fundraising as time allows. I've already given more than $100 that I couldn't afford, but then kids went on scrap drives and bought war bonds they couldn't afford in the 1940’s. This really is just as desperate as 1942 was, I don't know why more people can't see it! If he is re-elected, we are finished as a Republic!!

13
posted on 08/11/2012 3:05:04 PM PDT
by 2ndDivisionVet
(You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind every blade of grass.)

Liberal pundits are already fanning out in force to attack and discredit Paul Ryan...good - we'll take their best shots for two weeks, then have four days of convention spotlights with speech after speech to answer them and firm up the counter-attack........

My prediction: Sarah will introduce Ryan at the convention as a surprise. She will nail a speech in which she points out that Ryan personifies what she has always stood for. Et voila! 100% of the conservative vote to R and R, now with enthusiasm.

I remember Governor Sarah Palin beating then Senator Joe Biden like a rented mule, but that's just me I guess.

Everywhere except on election night. We can't forget that Ryan is not at the top of the ticket, Romney is. Palin was not able to turn McCain into a winner, it remains to be seen if Ryan can do the same for Romney.

29
posted on 08/11/2012 4:30:54 PM PDT
by Delhi Rebels
(There was a row in Silver Street - the regiments was out.)

If Roseanne Barr had somehow garnered the Democratic nomination in 2008, she’d be the president right now. There was no way a Republican was going to win that election, especially an old guy who isn’t exactly telegenic.

30
posted on 08/11/2012 4:34:59 PM PDT
by 2ndDivisionVet
(You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind every blade of grass.)

Standard rhetoric for any Pubbie choice not Noam Chomsky. The last thing Dems want is a campaign decided on discussion of the issues and ideology. The pick of Ryan not only forces the hand of Romney to talk about ideology, it should scare the bejeezus out of the Dem strategists who know what nitwits their president and veep are about discussing the proper role of government.

I visited my mom in her assisted living place today. Two conservative guys who we hang out with on the patio asked about how to get an absentee ballot.

Since I just went through the process with my mother, I knew just what to do. I have their applications printed complete with an addressed and stamped envelope. I’ll have to ask the known conservatives around there if they need any help. It felt good to assist these guys. It’s a little complicated for them to figure out, especially those with no internet connection. If anyone else is in a similar situation with their parent I encourage them to be proactive about helping these seniors get an absentee ballot.

Ah, yes, but for the reason that Billary & Hillary want Osama bin Obama to loose big time in November. And they want no part of her being on the ticket. Her only last chance is in 2016, but only if Obama looses now and she is not a part of the loss. Best, from their point of view, for Biden to stay on the ticket.

41
posted on 08/11/2012 6:10:36 PM PDT
by GGpaX4DumpedTea
(I am a Tea Party descendant...steeped in the Constitutional Republic given to us by the Founders.)

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